Barnet Football Club captain Graham Stack and his teammates grew beards to help raise money for a children’s hospice.

Graham Stack, Harry Crawford and Jack Saville were among a group of 20 men who took part in Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice’s Groah Noah campaign, challenging men to grow a beard and raise cash for the charity.

The footballers managed to raise £800 towards the campaign's total £3,500.

Graham Stack said: “When it comes to helping children I’m always happy to help out and especially with Noah’s Ark because it’s so close to the club ground and part of the local community.”

However, he admitted that his own children were a bit confused by his new facial hair. He said: “The kids kept stroking it which was a bit worrying because I think they thought it was a hamster, but it was all in good fun.”

The money raised during the campaign will be used to support the work Noah’s Ark does with life-limited and life-threatened children and their families.

Staff at Martyn Gerrard Estate Agents and Estates and Management Property Services in Finchley, also took part in the challenge.

David Smith, director at Martyn Gerrard, said: “My colleagues and I have spent a month of selfless endeavour to achieve our goal. Every spare moment, seven days a week, 24 hours a day have been spent putting everything we have into growing our beards.”